Recycling  
 

City Recycling Program

The City Recycling Program was expanded in July 2001 to help decrease the amount of trash disposed at our landfill and to comply with the State mandated AB939 law which requires cities and counties to reduce their waste by 50% by the year 2000. Whittier residents received one 96-gallon green container for greenwaste, one 96-gallon blue container for co-mingled recyclables, and one 64-gallon black container for refuse. All refuse, greenwaste, and recyclables are collected on the same day. Residents may request up to three extra containers for either greenwaste (green) and/or recycling (blue) free of charge by calling Consolidated Disposal Service at (562) 347-2100. Call your refuse provider to order extra black refuse containers. There is an additional $6.04 monthly rental fee for each extra black refuse container.

Blue Containers
Acceptable Not Acceptable
Tin, steel, and aluminum cans & foil
#1 - #7 plastic containers
(identified on the bottom of containers)
Glass bottles and jars
Newspapers, inserts, junk mail, envelopes
Magazines
Colored and construction paper
Corrugated cardboard (flattened)
Cereal boxes (with liners removed)
Wax-coated cartons/juice boxes
Empty paint cans
Aerosol cans (empty, no lids)
Gift wrap
Hangers
Yogurt containers
Milk and egg cartons
Shredded (loose)

Plastic bags/wrap
Drinking glasses
Plastic utensils
Food waste
Styrofoam
Scrap metal
Window or safety glass
Mirrors
Light bulbs
Wax paper
E-waste
Universal Waste

Green Containers
Acceptable Not Acceptable
Grass and Leaves (loose, not in bags)
Prunings and Weeds
Twigs and Small Branches (4 inches or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in length)
Vegetation
Brush
Sawdust
Recyclables and trash
Animal and food waste
Construction debris, dirt and rocks
Palm fronds, yucca/cactus
Plastic bags
Rugs and flooring
Metal
Stumps, large branches
Black Containers
Acceptable Not Acceptable
Trash/Refuse
Animal and food waste
Bathroom waste
Cat litter
Cigarette butts
Diapers and Toys
Rags and Sponges
Old clothes
Soiled paper plates
Car parts
Small amounts of dirt/rocks
Concrete
Construction Debris
Large Amounts of Dirt/Rocks
Furniture
Large Appliances
Recyclables
Yard Waste
Hazardous Waste
E-waste
Universal Wastes

Hazardous/Universal/E-waste Wastes Prohibited from Disposal

Beginning February 9, 2006, items called universal wastes should not be placed in the trash. Universal waste is a kind of hazardous waste. It is illegal to dispose of hazardous waste in the garbage. By throwing universal waste in the garbage, you can cause additional hazards to your garbage handler. Chemicals in illegally disposed hazardous waste can be released into the environment and contaminate our air, water, and possibly the food we eat. Since these items cannot be landfilled residents can take them to Household Hazardous Waste Round-ups. The following are considered universal wastes:

Common batteries – AA, AAA, C cells, D cells and button batteries (e.g. hearing aid batteries)

Fluorescent Tubes and bulbs and other mercury-containing lamps

Thermostats

Electronic devices such as: televisions, computer monitors, computers, printers, VCRs, cell phones, telephones, radios, and microwave ovens

Electrical switches and relays (mercury switches can be found in some chest freezers, pre-1972 washing machines, electric space heaters, clothes irons, silent light switches, automobile hood and trunk lights, and ABS brakes)

Pilot light sensors (mercury-containing switches are found in some gas appliances such as stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, water heaters, furnaces and space heaters)

Mercury Gauges (e.g. barometers, manometers, blood pressure, and vacuum gauges contain mercury)

Mercury added novelties (e.g. greeting cards that play music when opened, athletic shoes {made before 1997} with flashing lights in soles, and mercury maze games)

Mercury Thermometers

Non-Empty aerosol cans that contain Hazardous Materials

Recycling

Please be aware that the landfill does not accept liquids, hazardous or toxic wastes such as full or partial cans of paint, paint thinners, solvents, automotive oil, pesticides, car batteries, bulk flourescent light bulbs, metal drums that have one or both ends attached, electronics, including but not limited to televisions, VCRs, DVDs, radios and stereos.

Los Angeles County sponsors FREE Household Hazardous and E-Waste Roundups on Saturdays for your convenience.Materials accepted include: paint, paint thinner, turpentine, cleaners with acid or lye, pesticides and herbicides, household and car batteries, motor oil, oil filters, brake fluid, pool chemicals, televisions, VCRs, DVDs, radios, stereos, computers, monitors, printers, etc.

Used Motor Oil Recycling

The City of Whittier provides free containers in the Public Works Department for transporting used motor oil safely to collection centers. These containers may be picked up at the Public Works Counter on the main floor of City Hall, 13230 Penn Street. The following local businesses accept used oil:

AutoZone (just used oil)
11855 Whittier Blvd.
(562) 692-0251
Jiffy Lube
14180 Lambert Rd.
(562) 945-3253
E-Z Lube (just used oil)
13401 Whittier Blvd.
(562) 945-6863
Kragen Auto Parts
14860 E. Whittier Blvd.
(562) 698-1720
Firestone
11230 Washington Blvd.
(562) 692-0801
Oil Can Henry's
15806 Whittier Blvd.
(562) 902-6600
Gerky & Sons Lube PitStop
8806 Painter Ave.
(562) 945-4240
 

Obtaining Refuse/Recycling Containers

Call your service provider to request additional containers. The basic service level includes providing each single family resident with a 96-gallon green container for greenwaste, a 96-gallon blue container for co-mingled recycling, and a 64-gallon black container for refuse. Residents may request up to three extra green and/or blue containers free of charge. There is a monthly charge for extra black refuse containers.

Composting

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works sponsors free Gardening Workshops to learn composting, grass recycling and gardening techniques. To find out when a workshop is available in Whittier, call the City’s Recycling Coordinator at (562) 464-3531 or for more information call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works at 1-888-CLEAN-LA (1-888-253-2652) or visit their website at www.smartgardening.com

Construction & Demolition Recycling

The City has prepared a C & D Recycling Waste Brochure that contains information where construction materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, rock, glass, wood and metals can be recycled.

Donation Referral for Household Items

The City has prepared a Donation Directory that contains information where materials such as clothing, household appliances, food, toys, televisions, furniture, mattresses, typewriters, and computers can be donated.

Tire Recycling

To find a center that accepts used tires call 1-888 CLEAN LA (253-2652) or visit their website at http://www.888CLEANLA.com.

Collecting Electronics

The City of Whittier now collects electronics from single-family residents. Electronics have been added as a bulky item pick up and include computer monitors, TVs, VCRs, stereos, PC/laptop computers, fax machines, scanners, printers, etc. Please call your refuse hauler for more information.

Multi-family residents may participate in a local Household Hazardous Waste Round Up sponsored by the LA County Department of Public Works.

Who to Call

Call (888) CLEAN-LA (1-888-253-2652) or www.888cleanla.com or www.lacsd.org for additional information on free Household Hazardous Waste round-ups.

To Report Illegal Storm Drain Dumping or to Receive Information on Storm Water Pollution - call Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (800) 303-0003 or visit www.consrv.ca.gov

Brochures available for download (Acrobat Reader Required)

 
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